Mercedes-Benz warns its customers against the use of more than 800,000 of its diesel cars.

A fire hazard could not be ruled out, said a spokesman.

Corresponding cases have already occurred with the affected component, according to the company, which is why the recall is being made.

The cars are being called to the workshops in waves, and the first vehicles are due to be repaired in mid or late January.

"In the meantime, the vehicle affected by the recall should be driven particularly carefully and use restricted to the minimum required." The Group recommends that owners of affected vehicles "contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz service partner" immediately.

According to the spokesman, more than 100,000 cars will be repaired in the first wave.

The work in the workshop took about 60 minutes.

The recall applies to many diesel model series: GLE / GLS, GLC, CLS and the C-, E-, G- and S-Class.

Gasoline engines are not affected, the spokesman confirms.

It's about diesel cars built between 2017 and 2021, according to the recall database of the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

A total of almost 850,000 cars would have to be recalled around the world, in Germany almost 240,000 vehicles are likely to be affected.

According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, Mercedes published the recall on November 15 last year.

A valve causes problems

Reason for the increased risk of fire: The coolant pump could be leaking, the spokesman said.

The problem here is an "electrical switch valve" which, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, should be replaced.

In addition, Mercedes is making a software update.

However, it is probably not that easy for the group to carry out the repairs.

According to the spokesman, these are dependent on the release of the software, which is about to be completed, and the availability of the parts.

"The measure cannot currently be started because the required parts are not yet available", it says in a piece of information to the customers from December, from which "Bild" quotes.

Anyone who has sold the vehicle in the meantime should pass the warning on to the buyer.

The company's stock did not respond to the recall on Wednesday and traded slightly in positive territory.

The group did not want to provide any information about the costs.

Manufacturers have to repeatedly call a large number of vehicles into the workshops.

It is less common, however, that manufacturers advise people to leave their car there.